New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-13
ST. AUGUSTINE DEVASTATED
FIRE SWEEPS THE OLD SPANISH CITY.

| DESTRUCTION OF THE HISTORIC CATHEDRAL-IHE
| LOSSES AND INsURASCEs.
JAcKsoxvLLg, April 12.The Times-Union's st. Augus'
tine dispatch gives full account Of fire there this
morning which destroyed about $25O000 worth OF prop
erty. The alarm given at 3:15 for blaze In the
laundry Of the st. Augustine Hotel the Dorh side OF
the plaza Tho flames spread rapidly to the kitchen ana
then to the main part OF the building Tho fire depart
mcnt consisted only OF hookandladder truck anu one
Mansfield scam-engne, and soon on the scene but
II was impossible do anything to the hotel which
was already wrapped in flames The guests numbering
ninety and the forty servants with the exception OF one
| aundry-woman Bridget Barry. escaped By Urls time
the flames had crept through the entire building and CON-
| muncated to the Edwards House and The Cottage
| on the north, both frame buildings. These were
| soon reduced to ashes and the flames swept on
| northward to the Planters House and then the
| Florida House annex. Eore the frcmen and
| people by heroic efforts succeeded In prevent
| Ing the flames from reaching the main building
OF the Florida House. which Is OF wood and only fifteen
feet from the Tho next buildings to go we're the
First National Bank and OF the oldest landmarks IN
the ancient city, the old Spanish Cathedral just west OF
tho St Augustine House. The roof caught and soon Tell
destroying all the old historic relics in the interior
The old chimes fell too their last work being the alarm
which summoned the citizens to the scene OF confagra
ten BY great effort the Bishops house and the
house OF Dr. j. f. Peck the west were saved but were
greatly damaged by water At this time the east wall OF
the st Augustine House. facing Charlottest, FELL carry
ng the flames tho Sinclair Block on the opposite
sdc in which the stores of Gonzalez Benhayon
Moy Yong's restaurant yedder's Museum, Bucks res
tauran Daviss barber shop, Godcring & Co.'S cigar
factory and speizeggers drug store. All were com
pleely destroyed Next Chambcrains grocery and Mrs
b. L. Cars dwelling, north of the Sinclair Block, were
destroyed Returning to the west side of the street the
flames reached the old County Courthouse on the north
which was totally destroyed The records, however,
were removed and saved. Vedder & Compton's store
and Wcter's restaurant the west burned also; but
here the fire was checked and at 7:30 completely
under control
The losses which will aggregate $3.50 900.
| ly as now be learned. follows: St Augustine
HOTEL $l50.Oo0, insurance; First National Bank
building. 1000 no insurance. old Cathedral, $4,000,
insurance Si,lOo. in New-York companies;
the Cottage" $500, insurance $1,000, in
the Hope Insurance Company OF Louisiana;
the Edwards House $4,000. insurance; veddcr &
Compton, museum. $4,000 insurance $500 the court
Company Of Hartford; welters restaurant $1,000 IN,
suranse $1,000 on the building .. owned owned
aaa @d oFo ss % 5000 1 ii Bcston Sss
companies; Chamberlin's grocery 5000 insurance
lez Benhayon $4,000, no insurance; Davss barber
shop $500 no 9ss9se Moy os e na
speizingcrs drug store $1,000. no insurance. -,-
The proprietor OF the ST. Augustine Hotel was Captain
city His Insurance had Just expired The old Cathedral
OF the most interesting landmarks in the city, was
np 70 the time OF its destruction Besides
the losses above mentioned were those OF guests In the
cannot be detailed, will bring the total loss up 10 ne
aggregate before mentioned BRIDGET 10, barry' scIho hc
escaped early but returned TO save clothing ana was not
seen afterwarl
w.surScros, April 1.-THE following telegram
received the Treasury Department to-day from the
Collector OF Customs at ST. Augustine, Fla:
Tho principal part of the ity is destroyed by rc Tho
county co m eSu' nons Io so Sadns oecspsd
exposed ~ ''''''
Secretary Fairchld telegraphed follows in reply:
Render assistance % tho city officials in the way OF
providing rooms In the p0stoihce building.
Most on the New.York Insurance the St Augustine
fire. so be ascertauoa, carried by James
NJ Lewis an insurance broker OF No G7 Lbertyst, who
was high spirits last evening his narrow escape
from severe lie had $4,000 the 81. Angus
tno Hotel. written In various companies or this city
With the exception OF two small policies, repre-
senting about ~ 900 $1,000. all expired April l.
sir Lewis has also about so $50 900 the Mag
nolia Hotel this has not been seriously injured.
It, historical and antiquarian interest as the Oldest
city In the United states The quannes. OF its structures
and its atmosphere Of medieval repose have done per-
haps much as It's mild climate and beautiful situation
10 make St. Augustine favorite winter residence.
Ponce dc I'm his search for the fountain OF youth
made landing there early as 1912 at the point where
the city atterward established but 1t was not until
1868 that permanent settlement made there by the
spanish The Cathedral had in its tower bell bearing
the date l6s2 The custom house was formerly the res
dence OF the spanish Governor. The remains or
lighthouse with fortified walls one ot the early puli
of the Spaniards, still exist Anasasa Island,
and traces remain OF the lines Of defences ditch
and an ombankment which stretched across the
peninsula During tho two centuries or Spanish
occupation the maximum population OF 81 Augustine
5000. besides garrison OF 1000, and It's
population Is about 5000. Fort Marion IN which part or
the Apache prisoners have been confined during the
winter, completed by the Spanish having been more
100 building within the last two or three
St. Augustine has been growing RAPIDLY In popu
arity a winter resort and great sum OF money has
been expended upon hotels and other structures
for Tho enicrtanment OF visitors The
villa ZOrayda constructed for private
residence OF shell proved satisfactory and
harmonious with its antique surroundings that H. NJ
Fagor OF this city, began las, year the construction
the material OF the great hotel Ponce de Leon,
the first group OF notable buildings which was To In
cude the /" "Acazar" the casa Monica" and other
structures OF an oriental type.